OkillSportsSPORTS EDITOR: JON KUIPERIJ Phone 905-845-3824 (ext. 432) Fax 905-337-5571 email sports@oakvillebeaver.com FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2011 33Blakelock cruises to junior girls volleyball title"Playing the toughest teams right atBy Herb Garbuttthe beginning set the tone for us," theOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFTigers' coach said. "Everyone in thisleague plays hard and on any given day,T.A. Blakelock may have finished atopany of them could win." the Halton junior girls' volleyball stand-The difference in Thursday's final,ings, but nothing came easy for theWoodhead said, was her team's focus.Tigers this season.Blakelock jumped in front quickly inThey compiled an 8-2 record, but fivethe opening set, taking a 14-4 lead andtimes they were pushed to three sets never let Milton score more than two"and a few of those games we were downconsecutive points. The Tigers wouldsix or seven points and had to come backnever trail in the second set, taking theto win," said Tigers coach VickiWfirst three points on their way to a 10-4oodhead. advantage. Blakelock would again pre-Blakelock also went the distance invent Milton from stringing together alast Thursday's semifinal victory overrally until the very end, and by that timeBurlington's Assumption Crusaders justit was too late.to make the final at Sheridan College.Club players Taylor Leshuk and LeahBut for once, the Tigers decided to takeLowe-Davies gave the team a strong pres-things easy on their supporters andence at the net and a solid foundation tothemselves, for the most part anyway.build around. But Blakelock had to adaptBlakelock cruised to a 25-13 victorythroughout the season. Both Marleein the opening set of the final against theMMaracle and Grace Bourne broke fingersilton District Mustangs and led 23-12but Nicole Spring and Jessica Purvisin the second before Milton added thestepped up to take on bigger roles.first touch of drama to the proceedingsCampaigne also played a big part inby taking eight of the next nine points.helping direct the Blakelock attack, get-The Tigers would not let the junior girlsting the ball to Leschuk, Davies andAA title slip away, though, as they got theSpring. Woodhead said Campaigne waselusive last point to win 25-20.the team's most improved player last"They were good competition," saidseason, taking over the starting setter'ssetter Jess Campaigne. "We were readyjob as a Grade 9.for a good game. We came in with a lot"To have a non-club player in thatof adrenaline and we were really ready torole, there's a big learning curve,"play."Woodhead said. "She stays calm andThe top three teams in the league, Bfocused and wants to do better."lakelock, Milton and Burlington'sWith five of the six starters movingCorpus Christi were separated by justup to senior next season only Leshukone win in the standings and all threeis eligible to return Woodhead saidsplit their season series with one anoth-they will need a promising group of er. After opening the season with a three-Grade 9s to fill the vacated roles. Thatset win over Corpus Christi, the TigersERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVERgroup is led by power Olivia Holmes,lost to Milton in three Dec. 8 but bouncedwTIGERS ROAR:Members of T.A. Blakelock's senior girls' volleyball team celebrate after defeating Milton District ho the Tigers' coach said made greatback to sweep their opponents five daysstrides this season.25-13, 25-20 in yesterday's (Thursday's) Halton AA championship game at Sheridan College.later.